Auto-tractor.



J. FRANCO.

AUTO TRACTOR.

APPLICATION man Aurm. 1911.

Patented J uly 23, mm

ZSHEETS-SHEET K INVENTOR WITNESSES:

Arron!!! J. FRANCO.

AUTO TRACTOR.

APPLICAHDN FILED AUG. 1. 1911.

Patented J uly 23, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOBN FRANCO, OF SAN JUAN BAU'IISTA, CALIFORNIA.

AUTO-TRACTOR.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Join: FRANCO, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at San Juan Bautista, in the county of San Benito and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Auto-Tractors, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to traction devices, and pertains especially to a tractor attachment for an ordinary automobile whereby the latter may be quickly and easily con verted into a tractor of the selflaying track or iinkbelt type, and adapted to, agricultural and other uses, and still enable the automobile to be readily re-converted into a pleasure car. i

The chief feature of this invention is the design, and arrangement and construction of What is in client a diminutive link belt tractorcapable of attachment and adapta tion to the rear axle ofan ordinary automobile, so that by simpl removing the hind wheels of the automobile and gearing the rear drive axle of the automobile back to the attachment, any one having need for such a tractor may have one at small expensc.

Among the objects of the invention are:

to adapt such an attachment to go in a mini.

mum of space and have a maximum of tractive power; to arrange the device between the rear wheels or within the space where the rear wheels ordinarily are sothat the width of the machine is not increased, allowingthe device to operate among trees and in narrow. spaces; to adapt the ordinary differential drive of an auto to the successful operation of a self-layingtrack attachment without the use. of brakes.

Further ob'ects vwill hereinafter appear.

Having re erence. to. the accompanying drawings- Fi re 1:is a side elevation of an automobi e showing the application of the tractor.

Fig. 2 is a .plan view of thetruck sup-- portm the transmission rs and the end ess, sc f-layingtchaintrao driven by same, said, plan viewbeing partly in section to show. the osition of the gears.

Figs. .3 and 4am perspectives of the attachment.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a track link.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicatesa suitable form of motor vehicle,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 1,

Patented July 23, 1918.;

m1. SerlalNo.1B3,890.

2 the front wheels which are controlled from a steering wheel 3 in the usual manner, ,4, the rear wheels, 5 the rear drivin shaft,

6 the differential housing, 7 the ax e lions; V ing, 8 the brake drnms, 9 the axle spindleson which the rear wheels 4- are secured, and

B the tractor attachnu-nt in general.

The tractor attz'ichi'neut consists of a.U. shaped frame which is preferably eonstrunt ed of angle and channel iron burs, such as. indicated at if), 11, 12, i3 and H. The angle burs l0 and ll form the sides of the truck, the bar 12 the and, the bar 14 a cro s bar tying the side sections together, and the Channel plate 13 a support for a central bearing member 15 and a rear shaft 16. This shaft is rigidly secured at each cudby means of U-bolts 17 to the side frames and by a Ubolt 18 to the channel late 13.. The shaft thus secured cannot revolhe and, therefore, will not only serve as across bar co'n-' necting the side frames but it will also serve as a bearing shaft for a pair of driving gears 19 and a pair of connected driving sprockets 1 20; one sprocket and driving gear 19 being 80 bolted or otherwise secured together to drive in unison and each set being positioned inalinement with an idler sprocket 21 whi .h is journaled to rotate on a front shaft which is secured to the forwardvend of the side frames by U bolts 23, in this ma nner also serving as a cross bar between the side frames. The side frames, together with} the channel plate 13, also serve as a support for an intermediate shaft which inthis no stance is divided into two sections indicated i at 24 and 25, each shaft section being sup pol ted at the outer end by a bearing mem her 26 and at the inner end in thefcentral bearing member 15. v

The journals26 are preferably cast in;

tegral with a bracket plate 27, which turn" f is secured toeach side frame, and a second, F,

pelling track 30 and power to drive saidrlflb tracks is transmitted to the gears 19 through intermeshing intermediate gears 31 which are secured upon the divided intermediate shaft sections 24 and 25, power bein in turn transmitted to each intermediate siaft sec- '110 tion through gears 32, secured one on each end of the divided intermediate shaft, in a position where they are adapted to constantly inter-mesh with a pair of driving pinions 33 secured one on each axle spindle 9. Power transmitted through the propeller shaft 34 from the engine contained in the vehicle is in this manner transmitted through .the differential 6 and the rear driving shaft to the drivin pinions 33 secured upon the axle spinifies and is here retransmitted through the gears 32, the intermediate shaft sections 24 and gears 31 to the driving gears 19, which in turn drive the sprockets 20 and the endless track members supported thereby.

The dividing of the intermediate shaft permits the differential 6 to transmit power to either track member when the tractor is turning a corner and also permits the power to be equally distributed to each track member under normal driving conditions either reverse or ahead. Also any speed may be transmitted through the propeller shaft by the usual transmission employed.

The construction of the truck frame supporting the transmission gears and the selfaying track members is one of the important features of the resent invention, that is, the stationar sha ts 16 and 22 employed Serve as cross races to connect the side bars of the frame, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of the structure as a whole with out additional braces or rods. The rigid frame construction thus provided prevents the intermeshing gears from binding and always maintains a perfect alinement between same, in this manner increasing the life and durability of the attachment as a Whole. The two bearing members 26 and 28 on the single bracket plate 27 are also an im ortant feature as they not only provide a caring for the intermediate shaft but the also serve to maintain a fixed spacing or istance between the gears 32 and 33 regardlesspf the ground formation over which the tractor passes or the incline of same.

The bearing caps 29 permit the tractor attachment asa whole to be quickly attached or detached with relation to the rear axle housin and at the same time permit a free ivota movement of the tractor about the ousing, thus allowing the self-laying track members, together with the truck, to swing freely on t e axle housing when passing over undulations or uneven ground formations. The self-layin track members will, of course, have to' be disconnected every time the tractor is to be applied, but as this is accomplished by merely removing a link pin,

' it can readily be seen that comparatively little time is lost.

The track members are preferably passed over the axle housing to permit as great a $6 swinging movement of the truck proper as ment with the under side of the chain tracks.

Any Wear or rubbing action that might take place is in this manner obviated. Any slack in the chain that might produce unnecessary wear or rub on the plate may be taken up by the ad usting screws 40, as shown in Vhile the tractor attachment is here shown as applied to a Ford automobil it may, of course, be attached to any stan ard type of motor vehicle and the attachment; may be made without making any alterations or changes in the construction of the car proper, that is, it is only necessary to remove the rear wheels and secure the pinions 33 upon the axle spindles. The truck frame is then attached by applying the bearing caps 29 and the chain tracks may then finally be placed in position and connected. The height of the truck and the parts carried thereby is such that all stand ard parts, such as springs, fenders, etc, are cleared, permitting the attachment to be made without removing anything but the rear wheels 4. This is of considerable importance as it not only reduces the time involved but it also leaves the car in condition for ordinary use whenever desired.

Another important feature of the present construction is the arrangement of the selflaying tracks. They are placed comparatively close together entirely under the vehicle frame or inside of the lines assumed by the rear driving wheels. The width of the machine is, therefore, not increased and it is possible to drive much closer to trees or fences when plowing than would otherwise be the case. members being separately driven through the differential 6 may travel at variable speeds when the car is turnin a corner and the lower portion of each trac member may. be suitably supported to present the largest traction surface-possible, a pivotally mounted truck 50, such as shown in Fig. 1, bei preferably provided for this purpose. TlllS truck is pivoted, as at 51, on a bracket arm 52 secured upon the cross bar 14, and two or more rollers, such as indicated at 53, may be employed,if desired. The ivotal mounting of the truck permits a per ectly free move ment of same, thus permitting the track members proper to 've when assing over cobbles or other un ulations. here is one truck 50 for each track member.

The complete assembly of the U-shaped tractor frame which is o an at the front except for the rigid cross s aft 11 to allow for the ready entry of the rear axle, differential The individual track laying,

aniintennediate shaft journaled and 'tnansmission shaft of the automobile, constitute in efi'ect a diminutive traction entgineabut inwhich the power plant is carried on the automobile. No undue strains are puttupon' the automobile; the tractor at- I tachment carries and propels the automobile and its own tractive force is suflicient to haul any; reasonable, load attached at any suitable point! tothe tractorframe. As here shown, theirear partof the frame has an up-standing suitably :braced cross-draft -ba1r55 to which a clevis 5G is attached; the plows or other implements to be hauled being connected-at the clevis 56.

The materials and finish of the several parts hereemployed may otherwise be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

I is understood that various changes in fOIII},,Ll'OP'I'lZlOHS and eletails of construetion may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims, and that I do not limit myself to the specific design and c0nstr1u; tion here shown. I

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is- 1. In a tractor attachment for automobiles having a differential gear in the rear axle, an independent tractor frame supported upon endless, self-laying tracks dis osed between the axle spindles and the di erentia], means to pivotally support the rear end of the automobile upon the tractor frame, and means to transmit power from the rear axle tothe tractor attachment. i

2. Th" combination with the rear driving axle on a motor vehicle and the axle housing surrounding same, of a frame adapted to be pivotally attached to the axle housing, a pair of driving pifiions adapted to be so cured one on each'axle spindle, an inter mediate shaft journaled on the frame, a gear on each end of said shaft intermcshing with the driving pinions, a pair of endless flex-- ible track members on the frame, and means for transmitting power from the rear axle to drive the track members.

3. In attractor attachment for automobiles having a differential gear in the rear axle, an independent tractor frame supported upon endless, self-laying tracks disposed be tween the axlespindles and the difi'erential, means to pivotally support the rear end of the automobile upon the tractor frame, means to transmit power from the rear axle to the tractor attachment, said means comprising driving pinions on each. axle spindle,

on the tractor frame andgeared to the driving pinions, stationary shafts secured crosswise at the front and rear ends gear sprockets on the rear shaft to support. the ,rearend of and drive the tracks, Idlers on the frontshaft to support the front end of the tractor frame,

gears on the intermediate shaft intermeshing with the on the rear shaft.

4. The combination with the rear driving axle on a motor vehicle and the'axle housing surrounding same, of a frame ada ted to be pivotally attached to the axle houslng, a pair of driving pinions adapted to be secured one on each axle spindle, a divided intermediate shaft iournaled on the frame, a gear on each end of said shaft inter-meshing wlth the driving'pinions, a pair of endless flexible track members on the frame, and means for transmitting power from the rear axle to drive the track members.

5, The combination with the rear driving axle on a. motor vehicle and the axle houslng sun-minding same, of a frame, a pair of hearing members on the frame adapted to receive the outer ends of the axle housing, said bear ings permitting the frame to swing freely on the axle housing, a removable cap on each bearing member permitting the frame to be quickly removed. or attached, a second pair of bearingmembers fo med inta d with the axle housing la-aring :1 di; 'lcri inlet-mediate shaft journalcd in said hr ring, a pair of driving pinions adapted to l7- v, each axle spindle, a gear on each end of the intermediate shaft. intermeshing with the driving pinions, a pair of endless flexible track members, sprockets journaled in the frame supporting the track members, and

'itting power from the inmeans for trans i tel-meshed shaft to drive said sprockets.

6, The comlilination with the rear driving axle on a motor vehicle and the axle housing Surrounding same, of a frame, a pair of been ing members on the frame ad apted to reueive the outer ends of the axle lmui'aingsaid bearings permitting the frame to swing freel on the axle housing, a rvnmvable cap on each bearing member permitting the frame to be quickly 'ie]li10\ ed or attached, a second pair of hearing members formed integral with the axle housing bearings, a divided intermediate shaft journaled in said hearing, a pair of driving pinions adapted to be secured one on each axle spindle, a gear on each end ofthe in ermediate shaft intermeshing with the driving" pinions, a pair of stationary shafts secured crosswise of the frame oneon the front and one on the rear end ofthe frame, a pair of driving sprockets journaled on the rear shaft, :1 pair of drivlng gears ournaled on said shaft, one gear being secured to ozmh driving sprocket, a pair of idlers journaled on the front shaft in alincment with the driving sprockets, an endless flexible track member supportedhy c'ach sprocket and idler, and gears on the intermediate shaft intermeshi driving gears on the rear shaft.

7. In a tractor attachment for automobiles, a Ushapcd frame, a pair of bearing Hill ng with the members on the frame adapted to receive the rear axle housin of the automobile, said bearings permittmg an oscillating movement of the frame on the axle housing, a pair of stationary shafts extending crosswise of the frame serving as crossbar braces for same a pair of sprocket ear wheels 'ournaled on each shaft, and endless flexible track members carried by the sprockets interiorly of the U-shaped frame.

8. In a tractor attachment for automobiles, a U-shaped frame, a pair of bearing members on the frame adapted to receive the rear axle housin of the automobile, said bearings permitting an oscillating movement of the frame on the axle housing, a pair of stationary shafts extending crosswise of the frame serving as cross-bar braces for same, a pair of sprocket gear wheels journaled on each shaft, endless flexible track members carried by the sprockets interiorly of the U-shaped frame, and means for transmitting power from the driving shaft of the automobile to drive the sprockets and the track members earried thereby."

laying track tractor supported upon tracks extending around the automobile axle between the spindles and the differential thereof, pivotal supports for said axles upon the tractor attachment, and drivin connections whereby the motive power of t e automobile is.transmitted throughthe difierential of the rear mile to each track.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto bet my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN FRANCO.

M. E. Ewmo. 

